Apparatus for cleaning musical instruments of the cup mouthpiece type



Jun 1 19 2 A. F. HARBO 3,039,477

. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE CUP MOUTHPIECE TYPEFiled Dec. 2, 1957 FIE. E

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United States Patent 3,039,477 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING MUSICAL INSTRU-MENTS OF THE CUP MOUTHPIECE TYPE Alf F. Harbo, Taylor Ave., FortSnelling, Minn. Filed Dec. 2, 1957, Ser. No. 700,157 3 Claims. (Cl.134-169) This invention consists of an apparatus for cleaning theinterior of musical wind instruments of the brass family.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forsecuring a flow of a liquid through a cup mouthpiece type musical windinstrument for the purpose of cleaning the interior of the instrument. Aliquid (cleaning solution) in motion will clean a surface moreeffectively than a liquid not in motion.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaningthe interior of the instruments without wetting the exterior surface ofthe instruments. This is important because some cleaning solutionsdissolve lacquer finishes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forcleaning the interior of the instruments with a smaller quantity ofliquid than that required by the immersion method. A container ofconsiderable size is required to clean instruments such as French horns,baritones, and tubas by the immersion method.

The need for cleaning cup mouthpiece instruments is well known. Aresidue accumulates in the instruments because moist breath and salivaare forced into such instruments.

The need for desirable sanitary standards in connection with the playingof these instruments is indicated in one of the U8. Army publicationswhich states the requirement that the inside of cup mouthpiece windinstruments should be cleaned with soap water once each week.

Professional performers on these instruments generally maintain theirinstruments according to their individual standards of cleanliness.However, serious sanitary and hygienic problems exist especially inconnection with the use of school-owned instruments. School-ownedinstruments often are used by several students year after year withoutproper cleaning. Two or more students may be assigned to use the sameinstrument for the purpose of receiving instruction. Students who owntheir instruments often interchange instruments and are careless as tothe proper care of their instruments.

The instruments are not properly cleaned because of the difficulty andinconvenience involved and because of the relatively high cost of havingthe instruments cleaned at instrument repair shops.

Present methods of cleaning instruments consist of:

(1) Running water or other liquid through the instrument, chiefly bygravity, or, if water is used, by holding the instrument under thefaucet.

(2) Immersing the instrument in a cleaning liquid. The cleaningsolutions used in instrument repair shops must be used with great caresince they are usually very strong and permit the instrument to beimmersed for only a short time, as little as or 30 seconds, depending onthe strength of the solution. A cyanide solution that is commonly usedis extremely poisonous.

' (3) Using a brush, often in connection with methods (1) and (2) above.

This invention provides the means to circulate suitable cleaningsolutions and liquids through cup mouthpiece wind instruments. Themethod is convenient because a relatively small amount of liquid will berequired and the apparatus can be easily manipulated. The method iseffective because a continuous flow of liquid can be maintained. Anotherimportant advantage is that since imtubing of the musical instrument.

mersion is not necessary the appearance of the instruments will not bechanged-subsequent polishing will not be necessary.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus made according to theinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view disclosing a modification.

With respect to the drawing and the numerals of reference thereon, avessel 10 is for containing a cleaning fluid of ordinary or preferredcharacter suitable for the purpose of cleaning musical instruments ofthe cup mouthpiece type.

A first flexible hose 11 leads from a lower portion of the vessel 10 toa pump 12 to be actuated by a desirably electric motor 13.

A second flexible hose 14 leads from the pump 12 into the bell end ofthe musical instrument, denoted 15. Desirably, the end portion of thesecond hose 14 spaced from the pump 12 will be of configuration to bemore or less closely fittable to the customary conical tube at the rearof the bell.

Any suitable and convenient means can be employed for removablyretaining the end portion of the second hose remote from the pump in thebell end of the musical instrument while the apparatus is functioning toperform its intended service. In the disclosure as made, the mentionedend portions of said second hose is held in place both by friction andby the employment of elongated flexible members, each indicated at 16. Afirst end of each of the elongated flexible members is secured to acollar 17 fixed on the adjacent end portion of the second hose 14, and asecond end of each of said elongated flexible members is secured to acollar 18 on a portion of the continuous tube of the musical instrument15 adjacent to the bell thereof. The collar 17 can be detachably securedon the second hose 14 in any ordinary or preferred manner, as byemployment of a set screw. The collar 18 can be detachably assembledwith the tube of the musical instrument and desirably will be adjustablein circumference and kept in place by the flare of the bell of saidmusical instrument. The elongated flexible members 16 will be adjustablelengthwise to be capable of retaining the adjacent end portion of thesecond hose 14 firmly in place under tension.

A third flexible hose 20 leads from the tube of the musical instrumentat the location where the mouthpiece is inserted and enters the vessel10. As disclosed, the end portion of the third hose 20 spaced from saidvessel is detachably clamped on the musical instrument tube, as at 21.

When the apparatus of the invention is to be put to use all of thevalves, such as 19, of the musical instrument will be depressed, thus toprovide a continuous passageway from the bell end to the mouth end ofthe musical instrument. The valves can be held depressed in any suitableand convenient manner while the apparatus is operative, as by taping orclamping. Also, apertures, as at the bottom of valve casings, can beclsoed, as by taping or plugging.

In practical operation of the apparatus, the pump 12, driven by themotor 13, will be made operative to draw or suck cleaning fluid from thevessel 10, by way of the first hose 11, and force the cleaning fluidback to said vessel by way of the second hose 14, the tubing of themusical instrument and the third hose 20.

The speed of operation of the motor, such as 13, of the apparatusdesirably will be such as to cause a moderately slow rate of flow ofcleaning liquid through the Excessive fluid pressure could result inleakage, especially at the location 3,0 3 of the hell, or cause themusical instrument to be damaged.

It will be apparent that the direction of flow of the cleaning liquidcould be reversed. In such an event the pump desirably would be situatedbetween the third hose 20 and the mouth end of the tubing, or in saidthird hose, instead of between the first and second hoses 11 and 14.Preferably, however, the flow of cleaning fluid will be in the directionas disclosed, from the large part of the tubing to the small partthereof, thus to insure that the tubing will be completely full ofcleaning fluid during substantially the whole of the cleansingoperation.

Inasmuch as the cleaning fluid flows in a continuous circuit, from andback to the vessel 10, there is no waste with its attendant expense. Inan instance when the cleaning fluid or material was of no appreciablevalue the third flexible hose 20 could be dispensed with. In such anevent, the forced flow would be out of the mouth end of the musicalinstrument to atmosphere.

In FIG. 2 of the drawing there is disclosed a modified form of meanswhich could be employed to retain a hose, such as 14, of the apparatuswithin the bell of a musical instrument, such as 15, to be cleansed. Anelongated member 23, desirably adjustable lengthwise, includeslongitudinally spaced flanges which adjustably support clamping elements22 to be grasped on a hose, and on tubing of a musical instrument,respectively. The hose obviously can be fastened within the bell merelyby decreasing the length of the elongated member 23.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for cleaning a musical wind instrument having a flared,bell shaped outer end and a straight, cylindrical, tube shaped innerend, said apparatus including an open vessel for containing cleaningliquid, a motor driven pump located above said vessel, a first conduitopen from said vessel below the level of the liquid therein to an intakeside of said pump, a second conduit open from a discharge side of saidpump and having a rigid, outwardly converging conical end portion opento said outer end of said instrument and being of a configuration to fitsnugly in sealing relationship to an interior surface of said flaredouter end, a third conduit open to and adapted for sealing relationshipwith said inner end of said instrument and open to said vessel, andmeans to hold said conical end portion of said second conduit in sealingrelationship with said flared outer end of said instrument.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said holding meansincludes a first collar adjustably attached to and around said rigid endportion of said second conduit, a detachable second collar, adapted tobe positioned around the exterior of said flared, bell shaped outer endof said instrument and in contact therewith, and means for urging saidcollars toward each other.

3. The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said urging means isconstituted as a plurality of flexible members extending between saidcollars and adjustable to tend to draw said collars together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS635,961 Hasson Oct. 31, 1899 883,109 Gilman Mar. 24, 1908 1,799,105Lasko Mar. 31, 1931 1,804,536 Ludwig May 12, 1931 2,056,304 Sweet Oct.6, 1936 2,169,620 Spayd Aug. 15, 1939 2,204,900 Lowry June 18, 19402,453,669 Meneses Nov. 9, 1948 2,499,106 Metzkier Feb. 28, 19502,535,856 Luer-tzing Dec. 26, 1950 2,669,217 Pearson Feb. 16, 19542,714,079 Stodgell July 26, 1955 2,915,073 Merritt Dec. 1, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 79,016 Denmark Mar. 21, 1955

